Automatic drop-lid for bins or boxes



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

B. DAILEY. AUTOMATIC DIIoP LID POR BINS 0R BOXES.

Patented Aug. I, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BASIL DAILEY, OF SAN MARCOS, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIC DROP-LID FOR BINS OR BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,509, dated August1, 1893.

Application tiled .T anuary 25, 1893. Serial No. 459,705. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BAsIL DAILEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Marcos, in the county of Hays and State of Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Automatic Drop-Lid for Bins or Boxes, ofwhichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to boxes or bins for store counters and shelves;and it has forits object to provide certain improvements in the liddevices for boxes or bins, so as to avoid the many objections to hingedlids, which interfere with free access to the interior of the box or binwhen the same is used under the counter or on shelves.

To this end the main and primary object of the invention is to providean improved automatic drop lid for boxes and bins, which, while allowingready access to the interior thereof at the same time is entirely out ofthe way, so that the same is especially adapted for use in connectionwith all boxes,bins and receptacles which are used under the counter,the base shelf or on the shelves themselves.

With these and other objects in view which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood the same consists in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawingsz-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box orbin having a drop lid as contemplated by thisinvention, the lid being inits dropped position. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of theconstruction disclosed in Fig. l, showing the lid in position closingthe opening of the box or bin. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of thedrop lider cover. Fig. 4 is a detail in per- Spective of a modification,showing the lid dropped. Fig. 5 is a central vertical sectional View ofthe modification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents` a box, bin, or anyreceptacle that is designed to hold articles for retail use in stores,and which is designed to be placed under the counter, under the baseshelf or on the shelves themselves, as the case may be, said box, bin orother receptacle being of wood or metal. The receptacle A, is providedWith the front top opening B, cut at an angle in the usual manner, andhaving the opposite inclined side edges O, and the aligning beveledfront edge D at the upper edge of the front wall of the receptacle,which together form a support for the sliding drop lid E. The slidingdrop lid F., is adapted to cover the opening B, and is held in positionthereover and guided in its drop by the opposite guide strips F, securedto opposite upper edges of the side walls of the receptacle, and

projecting above the inclined side edges of the opening. The saidsliding drop lid E, is provided with a retaining block G, secured to theinner side thereof near its lower edge, and which, when the lid is inposition covering the opening B, is designed to rest on the upper edgeof the front wall of the receptacle and thus provide means forsupporting the lid iu its closed position. l

Secured to the inner side of the lid E, near its upper edge are theopposite metallic hooks H, which are bent toward the lower edge of thelid, and which are designed to embrace the upper beveled edge D, of thefront wall of the receptacle, so as to catch the lid E, when it fullyuncovers the opening B, and thereby form supports to hold it in avertical position on the front wall of the receptacle, so as to be outof the way while access is being had to the interior of the receptacle.Now it will be readily seen that when the lid is in position coveringthe opening B, itis only necessary to place the fingers on the loweredge of said lid, and lift the lower edge slightly, until the block G,has been raised above the upper edge of the front wall of thereceptacle. By removing the hand, the lid of its own weight Willautomatically drop to a vertical position in front of the receptacle,the hooks H, coming into engagement with the upper edge of the frontwall of the receptacle as described. The lid is placed over the openingB, by sliding the same back until the block G, again takes over theupper edge of the front wall of the receptacle.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, opposite guide rods I,are arranged at opposite edges of the opening B, and receive guide andsupporting eyes J, secured in opposite upper edges of the lid.` Theguide rods serve to guide the lid in its drop, corresponding to theguides F, in the preferred form, and said eyes serve to support the lid,

IOO

in its vertical dropped position,by resting on the front wall of thereceptacle as clearly shown in the drawings. `In this construction thesupport for the lid E, is the same, by means of a retaining block G,previously described. It will also be apparent to those skilled in theart that the relative positions ofthe guide rods and eyes can bereversed and still' secure the same result without departing from theprinciples of thisinvention.

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of constructionmaybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificingany of the advantages of this invention, for it wiil'of course beunderstood that the bin or box may be used in any position orconnection, and that the guides for the drop lid may be either on thebin or on the lid itself, and that different supporting devices may beemployed for supporting the lid in its closed and dropped positions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of a receptacle having a front opening and inclinedsides at the opi.' posite edges of said opening, an automatic 3 slidingdrop lid adapted to inclose said front opening and having a stop blockat its lower 3 edge adapted to rest on the upper edge of the front wallof the receptacle when closed, guides for said lid, lid supportsattached to the lid near its upper edge and adapted to engage the upperedge of the front wall ot i the receptacle, said lid being adapted tofall of its own weight when said retaining block is disengaged from thefront wall, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of` a receptacle having a front top opening cut at anangle, opposite guide strips arranged to project above oppo-4 BASILDAILEY.

Witnesses:

TOM. H. COLLIER,

T. R. DAILEY.

